I'm a big fan of bareMinerals and love their foundation (their eyeliner powder not so much as it tends to make me look like a panda before I've finished my morning coffee) but their foundation rocks. So I'm quite excited to hear that they've come up with a sleeping mask in powder form. I've never tried their skincare line before but the bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment might have me hopping over to Lane Crawford asap. The mask contains Ectoin Extract and Emblica Fruit for moisture retention and brightening properties and the brand claims that "concentrated powder treatment replenishes skin while you sleep so you'll wake up to the famous bareMinerals naturally luminous glow." A powder that moisturizes skin? Definitely intrigued.

I'm super excited to share that Island East Markets, my friend Janice's project, is finally happening on Sept 30th. I've been hearing about this project since early this year and it's great to see the results of her hard work. So what is Island East Markets? Basically a farmer's market that's happening on Hong Kong Island.

This market will showcase locally grown Hong Kong veggies and have close to 50 stalls, offering handcrafted arts and crafts, food and beverage stands in addition to the seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs on offer.

When: Starting Sunday September 30, 2012 for four weeks (trial period; the view is to be there every Sunday)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

AWWWWW YEAHHHH. Laduree to open in Harbour City this November. Can you wait? And, because we are so good, Santa says Pierre Herme will also be opening this year (date and location TBC, but it's confirmed because they are sending out PR emails). Which means in probably six months time, we will have at least two pedigreed macaroon brands and 30 other cute copycats in town. Question is, will Laduree and Pierre Herme be baking their goods on premises or, like Jean Paul Hevin, simply shipping them in from Paris? Can you even bake good macaroons in Hong Kong in this humidity? So many questions, so few macaroons in my mouth right now.

On a side note, has anyone tried the animal macaroons from Rolls on Stanley Street? They look so cute and retarded I feel like they must be horrible... but the boxes of Palmiers they sell are also the best thing ever.

The shots from the second wave of the Louis Vuitton and Yayoi Kusama collaboration are out and you know it's good when my first thought is desktop wallpaper material! I adore the blue Speedy and can't take my eyes off it. I can feel the jealous waves from the Speedy I have at home but I don't care. I wub you blue Speedy.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cheese lovers, if you've been to Hullett House in Tsim Sha Tsui this week, you'll have noticed that the heritage hotel is holding it's second annual Hong Kong Cheese Festival where over 80 specially selected gourmet European cheeses are offered in Cheese Workshops, Cheese and Wine Tastings, gourmet Cheese Dinners and a traditional Cheese Market. If you haven't been over yet, then get thee over stat as tomorrow is the last day.

There will be the Pascal Jolivet Cheese Dinner tomorrow night (HK$980+10%) where you can try a selection of fine wines from the Pascal Jolivet vineyard in the Loire Valley, famous for its Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé, designed to complement the six specialty French cheeses in Chef Philippe Orrico’s menu. If you're not looking for a proper full fledged dinner, then check out the Fine Cheeses and Wines from Italy workshop that's also being held at Hullett House (HK$350+10%)tomorrow.

I just recently invested in my very first Rimowa, and I feel a little like Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series when she discovers this whole new category of retail madness in which to indulge. Luggage purchasing is not necessarily the most economical of habits, but once you have the one Rimowa... you tend to want the whole family. The brand recently launched a line of rose-coloured suitcases, but it's now the Moncler collaboration I really want. Lined in puffy, downy fabric and inclusive of shoe bag, laundry bag, utility bag and a small beauty case, it makes me want to curl up and just crawl in and curl up. New Rimowa... I want to be inside of you.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I was so happy when I heard that MAC was finally launching a permanent nail lacquer collection. For a brand that has endless awesome collaborations and new launches, it was a pet peeve that their nail polishes were always limited editions. Nothing wrong with that mind you, just that it's hella hard to replicate a colour that you've grown fond of. The permanent collection has 31 colours in 3 finishes and I was lucky enough that MAC sent me some colours to try out. I'm quite enthralled by Morange, a bright creamy orange. Priced at HK$110. See all the colours after the cut.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Zara has been getting better and better with every season -- I'd actually take their regular line over any other fast-fashion brand's designer collabo-collections, even. And although there are a few pieces you're bound to see on other people, it's almost a badge of pride now. "Oh, you bought that? I have it, too!" Luckily us plebs don't have to take part in who-wore-it-better polls. I have a feeling we'll be seeing Zara's outerwear on everyone and their mommas come this winter. Beautifully structured, with immaculately thought-out detailing and sophisticated pattern-cutting... it's good to the max. Maybe we can't all look like Freja Beha Erichsen... but I'll be damned if we can't dress like her.

I've been looking to get a new pair of sneakers and I think I've finally found what I want. Check out these awesome kicks that's a crossover collaboration between Be&D and New York artist Trong Gia Nguyen featuring stilettos, skeletons and pistols. I'm quite taken by the stilettos but wished that they had it in black. Methinks it's time to take a spin to Harvey Nichols to see if there are any pairs left. Priced at HK$1490.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Our last giveaway ended but yesterday, yet here we are today again with another awesome freebie. It never rains, but it pours, indeed. Except for at Geek headquarters, where we keep giving away gadgets without getting any for ourselves. Hm. Food for thought.

But back to the topic at hand. This Samsung Galaxy Note phone is brought to you in honor of the 1O1O Million Challenge. The series is a horse-on-horse battle to the finish line, comparing the performances of individual equines in the Happy Valley races over a six-month period. Points are awarded to horses after each Class 3-or-above race every week on Wednesdays from September 12 this year until February 27, 2013, with the prize money set at HK$1 million.

Why these Happy Wednesdays is important to you is because of the race-watching and gambling (just don't go overboard!) and of course, the off-course peripheral activities, like the 1O1O Beer Garden, theme nights and other special activities. There will also be competitions running such as our own giveaway. Check out others on their Facebook page.

In the meantime, to win the phone is simple. All you have to do is answer these two questions in an email to giveaway@hkfashiongeek.com. This giveaway is only open to Hong Kong readers, and the deadline for entries is October 3.

What is the name of the horse-racing series sponsored by 1O1O?
a. 1O1O Million Challenge
b. 1O1O Billion Dollar Challenge
c. 1O1O Racing Cup

How often do 1O1O Million Challenge races run?
a. Every week at Happy Valley racecourse from September to February 2013
b. Twice a year – opening night in September and closing night in February
c. Once a month at Happy Valley racecourse, from September to February

I've always been a word nerd and not only for words on screen but for the actual printing process and book binding and formation of letters via calligraphy. Unfortunately, with the digitalisation of the world, there's less and less people who's heard of letterpress printing and more inclined to discuss wordpress blogging. Hence my delight at discovering these letterpress pendants from GwenDelicious on Etsy. Aren't they gorgeous? They are originally used on hand-cranked printing presses, each piece of type used in these necklaces are worn out by normal printing use. Available for about HK$300 a pop.

If you have nothing to do this coming Saturday, be sure to check out the Cyberport Weekend Market which starts again after having had a summer hiatus. (Speaking of which, I'm so ready for my US TV shows to start again. Summer TV is soooo boring. Thank goodness for also being a TVB drama addict.) Anyway there will be over 40 booths offering exotic handicrafts to locally designed creative gadgets to organic vegetables and green products. A highlight of the Cyberport Weekend Market is the urban farming project which allows families to grow their own fruits or vegetables in little crop boxes at the outdoor with expert advice, and harvest the organically-grown food in three months’ time.

There are also other activities for young ones such as Kreative Studio’s Little Super Star Singing Contest and performances, as well as the Creative Upcycling Workshop by reusing discarded items. There will also be family movies in the outdoor cinema where you and lounge at the green lawn. The Cyberport Weekend Market kicks off from 22 September and running until March 2013.

P.S. Stay tuned for next week's write up on Island East Markets, another exciting market that will launch end Sept

Friday, September 14, 2012

You have to love Style.com for its comprehensive coverage of pretty much anything under the fashion sun. Here is some of its laudable documentation of Rodarte's FW show, including detail shots, beauty close-ups and front row attendees Miroslava and Kirsten. Really, really loved this collection, in a way that I haven't really felt since the designer sister duo was gluing twisted chiffon onto bodices and then throwing on the most bondagey footwear possible (2008, as Style.com reminds me). That season seems almost student-like compared with the polished structure you see in Rodarte today, whose shredded sweater-dresses have given way to couture-like dresses and gowns. Don't worry, the bondage isn't all gone -- there's still the odd pair of grommeted leather leggings for the diehards. Details after the cut.